M8 HMC 3rd Armored Div., France, August 1944 HG4913 Scale 1:72

Highly detailed Hobby Master Ground Power Series US M8 HMC 3rd Armored Div, Barenton, France, August 1944 Item#: HG4913 Scale: 1:72 The U.S. military had requested a light close-support vehicle so a standard M5 with the turret removed was tested. A new open-top turret was installed, the Driver and Co-driver were moved forward to accommodate a larger turret and with limited space in the vehicle the chassis was modified to tow an armored ammunition trailer. The M8 was the first American fully tracked Self Propelled Howitzer with 1,778 vehicles being produced between September 1942 and January 1944. The M8 was gradually replaced by the M4 Sherman with 105mm Howitzers. The 3rd Armored Division “Spearhead” was unofficially referred to as the “Third Herd”. The 3rd AD saw their first combat as a complete unit on July 9, 1944 acting as the spearhead for the U.S. First Army. The 3rd AD took part in fighting at St. Lo, helped close the Falaise Gap and fighting at Barenton. The unit spent August 6 – 12 1944 fighting heavy German resistance at Barenton. The 3rd AD spent 231 days in combat and suffered the heaviest loss of tanks by a U.S. division.